Does Iraq actually ave an airforce now manned by Iraqi pilots?

There is no plan for the IN to have a 5 carrier Navy, at least not for the next 30 years, making such a debate irrelevant today. The 3 carrier Navy with one in refit is the only offical IN requirement for now and the near and medium term. The aircraft to serve are the MiG-29K and N-LCA for the moment, I think that plans to upgrade the current fleet of Harriers to BVR standard never took off, the harriers will probably retire with the Viraat or see backup service for a few years on the Gorshkov, noone really knows.

I dont understand why they dont increase the production level of su-30s to more than 20 a year and save some of that 9B for the MCA, its ridicuous to spend so much on a 4th gen fighter in the 21st century. 🙁

As far as I am concearned, the m2k or mig-29 purchase will represent a lack of strategic vision on the part of the babus that run the country, something that does not surprise me at all these days. Those airframes cannot serve in the 21st century, they should still be active by 2025 when f-22s and armed aerial vehicles dominate the sky above. I see the m2k as being too Pakistan specific when the real threat is to the north. India needs a deep penetration stealth strike fighter to pose a threat to the numerically superior Chinese air force.

Hence the m2k is not a good buy for 9B dollars
Noone has yet to convince me of the following

1) We can upgrade the MiG-29 fleet and buy new airframes for the ol;der airframes that have seen many flight hours.
2) We can build another assembly line of su-30s and increase the number to 240 and more importantly double the production from 14 a year to at least 22.
3) The LCA is comming online in 2008 and full production starts a year later and the initial version will be at least as capable as the m2k-5
4) Sanction the saved money to the mca programme and concentrate all efforts on stealth. Finalize the pak-fa development with Russia, at least a non multirole version can be ready by 2015.

Result

The IAF moves into the 21st century with 21st century planes and the LCA and su-30s become the mud movers with their 4+ gen status.

I do not buy the reliable BS

“The Mirage 2000 is a reliable ac and the IAF loves it, hence we should keep on buying upgrades of the same aircraft that has seen service for years now to serve us in the 21 century”

Certainly the MCA will be able to cater to the N role as it is being designed as a strike fighter to replace the Jags and Mirages, the PAK FA 5th gen concept can also do a better job. By the logic I see here, the USAF should stick with F-16s blk 60+ and not the JSF simply because the F-16 has proven itself to be a reliable fighter and has done well for itself for years. Reliable or not, the Mirage 2000 is a decent 4th gen fighter that should however not see service in the IAF in the 21st century vs countries like China.

😀 Has the Indian Navy ever considered purchasing something along the lines of CV-64, USS Constellation? All it would take would be a refit, adding electronics to meet Indian Navy standards, and training for their personnel to operate the steam plant on board the “Connie”. As for aircraft, possibly Mig-29Ks, E-2C Hawkeye, and possibly EA-6B. Not a bad idea, really. At least it is in better shape than the Admiral Gorshkov. 😀

😀

Poor kid, I can see that your post is purely intended to flame try pakdef.info

Perhaps you would bring some more evidence to proove your above statement, as the only evidence of the actual health of the ship is officially deemed as “good”

The ADS displacement should be finalized by now, when does cutting of steel begin.